Classic Chevy Squarebody trucks take a lot of love and care to keep in perfect condition. Chipped and rusting paint is one of the last things you want to deal with, and it’s even worse because chipped paint often leads to rusting over time. The front of the rear wheel wells is very prone to these issues, which is why GM originally offered the optional upgrade of stone shields. LS Fabrication has reproduced these high-end nostalgic pieces to help add style and protect your Squarebody C10.

What Are Stone Shields?

Also called gravel shields, these are a stylish stainless steel piece installed in front of the rear wheel well. For some, they’re purely aesthetic; for others, it’s a matter of vehicular accuracy — both Chevy and GMC offered these C10 Squarebody Stone Shields as a factory option for an additional cost.

They also serve a functional purpose: helping maintain the paint job. These trucks kick up rocks and gravel on the road, and on the lower body panels near the tires this can cause dents and chips in the paint — which can then rust and spread quickly, leading to significant repairs down the road.

Both companies stopped producing the original stone shields some time ago, and genuine factory pieces are now extremely difficult to find (and expensive when you do). Leaving your Squarebody without gravel shields leaves it vulnerable to paint chips and rust — which is why we recommend having them on your vehicle.

Why Are GMC Stone Shields Important?

Beyond being an original factory part, stone shields prevent paint chipping, which not only looks bad but leads to rusting — and rusted parts eventually need replacing, which gets expensive. Finding correct replacement pieces for the lower body of a Squarebody is exceedingly difficult, since these areas often rust over time as paint jobs go unmaintained. A relatively small piece like a stone shield can save a lot of time and money in repairs down the line.

Laser cut from 20-gauge stainless steel and bead-rolled for a genuine factory look — less likely to dent, won’t rust like painted steel, and can be polished to a near-mirror finish.

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Where Can I Buy Squarebody Stone Shields?

You can purchase our LS Fabrication reproduction Chevy truck stone shields on our website. We recreate this piece as accurately as possible using precision laser cutting on 20-gauge stainless steel, then bead-roll the metal for a genuine look. Like the traditional shields, ours are made from stainless steel — less likely to dent, won’t rust like painted steel, and can be polished to a near-mirror finish.

If you have questions about quality compared to genuine GMC and Chevy stone shields, check out Ronnie Wetch’s C10 “Orange Slice” segment in the October 2020 issue of Street Trucks, where they discuss our product in detail.

Are Gravel Shields Necessary If You Have Front Tire Flaps?

We often get asked if Squarebody stone shields are necessary when 1973-1987 C10-style Chevy and GMC trucks already have front tire flaps to deflect stones. Unfortunately, those flaps only protect the front tires and surrounding lower body — the rear end is left exposed. Stones and gravel jump and bounce as they’re kicked up, so debris shields are still essential to prevent rear chips and rusting, even with front mud flaps in place.

How Do You Install GMC Stone Shields?

We make our GMC stone shields easy to install. Your order includes the debris shield along with all necessary hardware, and we’re available if you have any questions during your install. Realistically, it won’t take much more than a screwdriver and a grease marking pencil, depending on your exact make and model — we also provide detailed installation instructions that work for most Squarebody trucks.

Conclusion

If you own a classic Squarebody C10 Chevy truck, keeping it in the best condition possible matters — and a new paint job or repeated touch-ups from rock chips is a costly alternative to prevention. Stone shields make your vehicle look nicer while reducing the chance of rock chips and rust, and they’re easy to install. Check out the shields from LS Fabrication today.

Stone shields are one of several ways to protect a Squarebody body. The rest are in our 73-87 Squarebody truck parts collection.